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Downtown merchant urges city employees to patronize local businesses; residents raise youth-program concerns
Summary
During public comment, downtown merchant Sherry Sigmon said city employees were told not to eat at a local restaurant and urged staff be allowed to patronize local businesses; others asked for more youth programming and a church partnership for summer mentoring.
During the June 15 public comment period, Sherry Sigmon, owner of Big Sig’s and a member of the Downtown Newton Development Association and Appearance Commission, urged Newton officials to allow city employees to patronize local restaurants. She said employees had been seen eating at a local restaurant and were then told by city administration that they could no longer eat there on their breaks; she said city staff should be allowed to eat locally.
City Manager Todd Clark told Ms. Sigmon he would follow up because it was the first he had heard of the issue. Two other commenters raised youth-program concerns: Annie Sifford said Central Gym’s hours limit safe activities for young people and that the community often hears “no” when asking for things, while Mark Ivey proposed a summer mentoring partnership with East Newton churches and offered structured volunteers to support youth programming.
These remarks were made during public comment and did not result in formal council action at the meeting; City Manager Clark said staff would follow up on the downtown patronage concern and the council asked staff about options for youth programming during related agenda items.
